What’s On Tap: Upcoming Speakers
“The Future of Earth Day Starts Here”
SDBG Chief Science Officer Dr. Todd Michael
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Join Dr. Todd Michael, Chief Science Officer of the San Diego Botanical Garden and Research Professor at the Salk Institute, for a forward-looking conversation about how plant science is restoring the landscapes around us, influencing what we grow and eat, and revealing new possibilities for medicine – transforming gardens into living engines of discovery and connection.
As families, communities, and cities envision what comes next, the places we cultivate shape the future we live in. Gardens are no longer just collections of plants, they are living laboratories, classrooms, and gathering spaces that connect science, beauty, and everyday life.
On Earth Day, explore why what happens in gardens doesn’t stay in gardens and why the future may begin closer to home than we think.
Register
“Preserving and Protecting Otay Mountain’s Hidden Flora ”
SDBG Conservation Manager Rachel Sadowski
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Just south of San Diego, along the U.S.–Mexico border, Otay Mountain is home to an incredible variety of native plants—many of which grow nowhere else on Earth. This rugged landscape supports more than 50 rare plant species, making it one of the most biologically unique areas in our region.
Over the past five years, staff from San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) have worked closely with the Bureau of Land Management to locate, map, collect seeds from, and grow ten of the area’s most threatened plants. Through careful fieldwork and hands-on plant propagation, the team is helping ensure these species survive for future generations.
Join SDBG Conservation Manager Rachel Sadowski for a look at this remarkable wilderness and learn how studying and growing rare plants today can guide successful restoration efforts tomorrow—right here in San Diego’s backyard.
Tickets on sale soon!
